Putin to visit India to ink defence deal
2010-03-10 [16:42:32 hrs] | | Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi tomorrow on a two-day visit during which the two sides are likely to conclude the long-delayed agreement on aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov and ink defence deals worth USD 4 billion.
Coming three months after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Russia in December 2009, Putin’s India trip has a wider agenda which includes taking bilateral technological and energy cooperation to a new level.
Diplomatic sources said the two countries are keen on developing bilateral interaction in hi-technology as Russia has launched a major plan for its innovative modernisation.
Besides the deals worth USD 4 billion, including the final delivery agreement for Admiral Gorshkov, the two sides will also sign the final agreement for joint manufacture of fifth generation fighters, local media reported.
According to the delivery agreement for Admiral Gorshkov, an irritant in the bilateral ties, New Delhi would shell out an additional USD 2.35 billion for the upgradation of the carrier and training of Indian naval crews, it said.
Besides holding bilateral talks with Singh, Putin will also meet President Pratibha Patil during his visit.
On the eve of Putin's visit, sources said Singh will accord a red-carpet welcome to Putin in the same manner as his Soviet-era predecessor Alexei Kosygin who was received by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1968.
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